Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume half-heartedly rejoiced over the return of the NHL to Winnipeg Tuesday, saying the announcement is rubbing salt in his wounds.
While Winnipeg is celebrating the return of a professional hockey team, Labeaume lamented how Quebec City is quibbling over the construction of a new arena in the hope of luring a team back.
“I'm angry and very, very bitter,” Labeaume said Tuesday. “We should be in a blitz with the NHL to make sure we're next on the list (after Winnipeg) but instead, we are here fighting a minority,” Labeaume said.
The mayor is facing opposition to a deal between media giant Quebecor and the city to build a $400-million NHL-calibre arena. The agreement would give Quebecor naming rights to the city'' proposed arena scheduled to be completed in 2015, which could serve as the future home of an NHL team.
However, opponents to the deal, which includes a former Quebec City general manager, intend to challenge the agreement in court, saying it benefits Quebecor and would result in higher city taxes.
Labeaume has taken the unusual step of asking the province to pass a bill to protect the deal from lawsuits. Hearings to study the bill will take place Thursday and Friday at the province's national assembly.
Labeaume said he fears this could derail the construction process and seriously hamper the city's chances to see the NHL come back to the town that was home to the Nordiques until they moved to Denver for the 1995-1996 season, where as the Avalanche, the club won the Stanley Cup in its inaugural year in Colorado.
“We're shooting ourselves in the foot,” Labeaume said. “This is seriously hurting Quebec City's chances (to get a team),” he added.
The mayor noted it is important the bill is adopted because he wants to sign the first contracts for construction of the arena by September. The agreement with Quebecor expires on Sept. 7.
The mayor did say he would call Winnipeg's mayor Tuesday to congratulate him and added he intends to travel to Winnipeg to attend the first NHL game there next season.
Meanwhile, the Quebec government stressed Tuesday the return of a professional hockey team bodes well for Quebec City. The province has agreed to pay for half of the construction costs of the proposed arena.
“It's a proof for us that the NHL is ready to transfer teams to Canada,” said Sam Hamad, minister responsible for the Quebec City region.
While Winnipeg is celebrating the return of a professional hockey team, Labeaume lamented how Quebec City is quibbling over the construction of a new arena in the hope of luring a team back.
“I'm angry and very, very bitter,” Labeaume said Tuesday. “We should be in a blitz with the NHL to make sure we're next on the list (after Winnipeg) but instead, we are here fighting a minority,” Labeaume said.
The mayor is facing opposition to a deal between media giant Quebecor and the city to build a $400-million NHL-calibre arena. The agreement would give Quebecor naming rights to the city'' proposed arena scheduled to be completed in 2015, which could serve as the future home of an NHL team.
However, opponents to the deal, which includes a former Quebec City general manager, intend to challenge the agreement in court, saying it benefits Quebecor and would result in higher city taxes.
Labeaume has taken the unusual step of asking the province to pass a bill to protect the deal from lawsuits. Hearings to study the bill will take place Thursday and Friday at the province's national assembly.
Labeaume said he fears this could derail the construction process and seriously hamper the city's chances to see the NHL come back to the town that was home to the Nordiques until they moved to Denver for the 1995-1996 season, where as the Avalanche, the club won the Stanley Cup in its inaugural year in Colorado.
The mayor noted it is important the bill is adopted because he wants to sign the first contracts for construction of the arena by September. The agreement with Quebecor expires on Sept. 7.
The mayor did say he would call Winnipeg's mayor Tuesday to congratulate him and added he intends to travel to Winnipeg to attend the first NHL game there next season.
Meanwhile, the Quebec government stressed Tuesday the return of a professional hockey team bodes well for Quebec City. The province has agreed to pay for half of the construction costs of the proposed arena.
“It's a proof for us that the NHL is ready to transfer teams to Canada,” said Sam Hamad, minister responsible for the Quebec City region.
